- Primary Subject: LeBron James signing with the 76ers and its impact on NBA 2K27
- Key Update: LeBron James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on July 24, 2026, joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey for what he called his "final decision"
- Status: Opinion piece.
- Last Verified: August 12, 2026
- Quick Answer: LeBron's move to Philadelphia boosts the 76ers into elite territory in Play Now, triggers a new cycle of Sixers-themed MyTEAM cards, and sets up the most compelling individual storyline in MyNBA franchise mode this year.
LeBron James made $53 million with the Lakers last season.
For a superstar of his calibre, who can only be rivaled by another great in Michael Jordan, it would be unthinkable to know he is signing with the 76ers for only $3.88 million for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
It's the first of a 2-year deal worth about a measly $8 million total. For a little bit of context, $8 million is more or less the same amount of money you'd pay for Dyson Daniels in a year, who's only a role player.
So yes. This number that "the king" agreed to is closer to what a solid backup gets on a hometown discount than what anyone has ever paid for a 4-time champion and a 22-time All-Star.
He called this his "final decision," which means that these 2 years might be his final stretch in the league, setting another record for the longest NBA career in history, which is a quarter of a century.
All that said, this is not a retirement tour, but his final hoorah to chase a fifth ring with Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecomb.
This is the most interesting thing that happened to NBA 2K since Kevin Durant joined the Warriors.
76ers Are Now One of the Best Teams In NBA 2K
In NBA 2K, the Philadelphia 76ers roster in Play Now was already a legitimate contender you could join as a rookie if you're starting MyCareer as a Small Forward and a solid franchise with an already established roster if you're playing MyGM.
Now, with the addition of LeBron James, the team instantly turns into one of the more intimidating teams to face in Play Now.
In fact, if you're going to hit up this mode today, you'd face overwhelming competition in most of your matches against the 76ers.
It's a very talented roster that I'd dare to say could even beat the 2016 Warriors in Play Now.
What to Expect of LeBron James Rating in NBA 2K27
At 41 years of age, LeBron James is still averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds over 60 games for the Lakers last season.
These are All-Star numbers being put up by someone who's now playing against the sons of players he faced when he first entered the league.
While we can all agree that he is not what he was during his Miami or Cleveland runs, in-game LeBron James is more similar to his younger era counterparts, so it's a reasonable expectation that he would be in the low to mid 90s once the game goes live.
Every LeBron MyTEAM Card Is About to Get Expensive
LeBron James in a new city and a new uniform equals new cards in MyTEAM.
He's been the cover athlete for two editions, once for NBA 2K14 when he was with the Miami Heat coming off back-to-back championships, and once for the 20th Anniversary Edition of NBA 2K19.
Both of his appearances came at moments when his commercial value was through the roof.
While he is not on any of the three covers for the upcoming game, what we do know is that this will be his final two years in the NBA.
This means we can expect every variation of LeBron James, not only for the 76ers but for every team he's been on, to be valuable in this game mode.
The Best NBA Storyline for MyNBA
LeBron James in his 24th (and potentially 25th) season, on a minimum deal no less, is the fantasy for every aspirant GM of the league.
This, in and of itself, is a Cinderella story in the making, which you only have to steer lightly to get your hands on a ring.
You'd have very few problems barring any injuries since it's a very talented roster that's set to win multiple championships.
Why It Might Be Bad to Start a MyCareer With the 76ers
MyCareer, however, might not share a similar story. As a rookie who's going to start a career in the NBA, joining an already loaded team with Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid might not be too enticing.
It would be a cool idea to play with LeBron James in any NBA 2K, but it might take you a lot of games just to gain the starting position.
While the game itself would steer you in that direction eventually no matter what happens, it just feels so unrealistic that the coaching staff would suddenly consider you as someone better than any of the 76ers' starting five in your rookie year.
What's worth noting in all of these is that LeBron James has a player option for the 2027-28 season. If he exercises it, he plays a 25th NBA season, a feat no other player in NBA history has done, alongside his All‑Time Scoring Record.
He would also be the only player with 40K Points, 10K Rebounds, and 10K Assists. All of these are records that may never be broken in real life or in-game.
Plus the fact that he would still be an active player come NBA 2K28. What a feat and a fitting journey for the King!
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